Hat brim ironing machine



@CL 3, 1931i R. G. SEGSCHNEIDER 928576 HAT BRIM IRONING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1931 F j C,

ATTORNEY.

. 20 anism therefor.

Patented Oct. 3, 1933 f HAT BRM membro-MACHINE Q RudolphGQSegsclmeider, Yonkers, Y. y i

Application November 25,1931 SerialNo. 577,206 i 11 claims. (c1. 223-28) My present invention relates to improvements in the construction and mode of operation of machines for ironing the brims cfhats. y

The general object of ymy invention is the pro- ..,5fvisi'on of aghat brim ironingmachine which is characterized by its simplicity `and low cost of construction` and its high operating efficiency. A further and Vmore specific object; is thevprovision of ka machine of 'the character described in 10 whichihats of variousbrim sizes andshapes may be `treated without requiring anychange in the arrangement of the parts or adjustmentrof the operating mechanism. Another object is the pro- Y vision oi a machine of the character described in i l which the brim is given a glazingtreatment im@ mediately after the ironing operation. Another yobject is'the provision of a machine ofthe characterdescribed which obviates the use of special crown block constructions and supporting mech- The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims'annexed to'and forming a part of lthis specification. f For a better under- `2,5 standing of the invention; however, and the ad# vantagespossessedby it, reference shouldbehad to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described I geously made of metal Aof high thermal .conducay preferred embodiment of the'invention.`

Of the drawing: Y I

Fig, l is a plan View of a hat brim ironing machine constructed in accordance with my inven-l tion; f i v f Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine shown in Fig. l; and

Figs'. Band et are sectional views on thelines 3-3 and 4 4, respectively, ofr4 Fig. 1.` Y

In the drawing. a machine embodying my invention is illustrated as rsupported upon a suitf 40 able platform or bed A, The machine comprises a table `B of general rectangular formation having legs Br adjacent toits corner portions for supporting the table at a suitablelevel above the bed AA. A hat C, the brim CA of which is to be ironed,

is shown as resting on the table in an upright` positionwith the lower surface of its brim in contact with the fiat upper surface ofthe table.` The brim of the hat' is adapted. to, passbc'tweenv the adjacent-flat surfaces of substantially vertically .5 aligned upper,Y and lower heated irons D andfE,

respectively; whereby` corresponding .portions of the upper. and lower brim surfaces will be simultaneously treated. f

, The upper ironD `consists of an elongated rec- 5,5 tangular box-like member yD' having an opening D2 infits rear wall of suflicient size to permit the `-7` passage therethrough of afuel nozzlelfor dis charging a combustible gaseous fuel mixture` into,

`the interior of the firon; and yetpermitting small vertical bodily movements ofthe member D rela# tiveto the nozzle. The opening D2 alsofservesasr an exitfor the products of combustionA from the iron rand for `the passage of fuel ignition means.v i

Obviously, the irons may be heated electrically instead of by fuel gas. The iron D is Isecuredfto the forward end of a iiat `ilexiblebar D4, which is fulcrumed onan inverted U-shaped bracket D5 secured to the table below an intermediate portion of the bar. The rearend ofthe bar D4 is'connected through a vertical link or cord D6' to a treadle (not shown) which is adapted to be i actuated by the machine operator to raise the iron D sufficiently to permit the insertion ofthe hat brim. The iron D is normally 'held against A the lower iron by a helical spring D'l pressing The fuel nozzle F cozn-` municates witha supply rmain F3 through a pipe F', in which a control valve F2 is located.` 1 f y The upper surface ofv the table B is advanta?l tivity and light weight, such as aluminum,-,ex

cept the portion below and atlbothl side'sfoffthe y iron D which isan insertG formed of metaLsfsuch as brass, which is of lower heat conductivity' and less liablevto oxidation when heated than laluminum. 'The plate G and therapie opening; 132m ,-9

whichit is locatedare symmetricallyarranged relative to the `longitudinal centerline.' of the table; Brackets YB3 extending across andbelow the end portions of l the r*opening `B2 serveltosu'pf Y portythe plate G atfthe same levelas the adjoining sections lof the table., The` iron E- is advantageously formed integrally ,with the plateTG by rectangularlyarranged depending ,plate mem-f' bers E forming arecess E2, below the open lower loo end of which isarranged a fuelburnernozzleiI-I carried at the innerend'of afuel supply pipeI-I. Theilatter is `connectedv to the' supply main- F3 ata point subsequent to a control valve"1I-I2. 'The 'upper iron D is preferably formed of thesame low heat 4`conducting metal-"as theV lower iron In operation the brim of thehat iscontinuously moved-betweenand past the adjacent 'coacting surfaces of the irons, which transmit heat and pressure to the material forming the corresponding surfaces of the brim by mechanism hereinafter described.

The hat is ordinarily received at the brim ironing machine with a wooden crown block C2 in place therein. The block may be of any form heretofore used in hat blocking operations provided the bottomv surface thereof does not extend below the lower surface of. the hat brim. The hat with such a block4 inserted therein is placed on the table and the upper iron raised to permit a portion of the brim to be inserted between the irons and then given a bodily movement through an elliptical path'on the table to pass successive sections of the Voval-shaped brim between the irons.

The mechanism for moving they hat relative to the irons comprises a pair of elongated rolls J and K arranged respectively alongside the upper and lower irons and in the vertical plane of the longitudinal center line of the table to provide a roll pass at the same levelasthe passage between the irons, as shown in Eig. 14. The upper roll J is of frusto-conical form and is arranged with the lowermost portion of its peripheryin a horizontal plane and havinga frictional contact with the upper brim surface." The tapered end of the roll 'J extends to a point adjacent theinner edge of the'brim. The-roll is mounted on "an inclined shaft J', which extends rearwardly` of the machine and is vjournalled in two axially spaced inclined bearings J2 and J3, which maintain the roll J in' the vposition described. The lower roll K is of cylindrical form and is mounted on a horizontal shaft K', which has its inner and outer end portions journalled in bearings K2 and K3. The upper peripheral portion of the roll K is arranged in a recess G formed in the plate G alongside the portion thereof forming the lower iron E. The upper part of the periphery of the roll K is at thesameV level as the upper surface of the plate G and frictionally engages the lower surface of thehat brim` in operation. A collar K on the shaft K andv movable in a slot G2 of the plate G prevents axial .displacement of the roll K. Y

, The roll driving mechanism comprises a power shaft L rotated by a suitable source of power ,(not shown) lthrough a pulley LE' The power shaft Lextends -parallel to the'rear end ofthe Vtable with its end portions journalled in projecting bearings L?. A worm L3 is carried on the shaft at an intermediate point thereon and forms with a worin'wheel L4 a driving connection with the roll "shaft K. The'drive shaftJfoi-'the upper roll is driven fromthev shaft K' through spur gears L5 and L6, 4as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, ata speed substantially higher thanthat of the shaft K. VTheupper iron is formed lwith a laterally projecting an'd'depending sectionD9 which is' coextensive withthe upper roll J and protects the Vlatter from dust and other deposits which would fcause discoloration of the hat portions contactving therewith. In operation the rolls and K engage the 'portions of the brim immediately after passing between, the yirons andrby their rotation, arrangement and proportions subject the hat to a continuous uniform driving eiect. i

The provision of a pair of smooth surfaced rolls rotating at different'angular speeds at the point at which the freshly "ironed, portions vof the hat brim emerge from the irons causes` both upper Vand lowersurfaces of the brim toY have a slipping contact'withV thev roll surfaces while vin a `heated conditionand due to'which the brim 'materialreceives a desirable glossy finish.

To avoid the necessity of an operator being in constant attendance on the machine for the purpose of guiding the movement of the hat relative to the irons and glazing rolls, I have provided a pair of hat guide members which simulate the proper arrangement and action of the operators hands. ,As shown in Fig. l, a guide plate M having, a curved inner surface is positioned at a point adjacent but subsequent to the rolls J and K and arranged to contact with the lower side of the crown when the hat is in position for operation. The guide M is formed with a horizontally projecting tongue l which is pivotally connected to a horizontally arranged arm M2 to permit limiting oscillating movements of the guide M relative to the arm M2. The arm M2 is normally arranged in a horizontal plane as shown, butis movable vertically to raise the guide M out of position by means of a pivotal connection with a stud M3 carried by a table bracket M4. The second guide member isarranged to engage the side of the hat crown directly opposite the roll pass and is formedby a resilientbar N, which when in its operative position bears lightlyl against the lower side portion of the crown. The opposlte endof the guide member N is pivotally mounted on a bracket N' through' a stud N2, permitting-the guide to be raised to a vertical position.l

In the operation cf the machine, the irons are heated to the proper temperature and the fuel control valves adjusted so that this temperature will be maintained. The guide member M and N are raised to their vertical positions. tor then' arranges the hat with its crown block in position on the table and raisesl the upper iron to permit a portion of the brim to be inserted between the irons. The guide members M and N are then moved to their operating positions and Va counter-clockwise direction over the table and the rolls J and K are therefore rotated in a counter-clockwise and clockwise direction, respectively, as viewed from the rear of the machine. As each portion of the brim passes between the irons, the material on both sides thereof is sub- Vjee-ted to heat and pressure and the felt fibers will be uniformly pressed iiat throughout the brim width. The ironed portion of the brim:

then moves through the roll pass between the rollers J and K and receives a glazing treatment on both of its surfaces. The hat will continue to be rotated until all portions of the brim have 'The 0136179.-

ies

undergone the ironing and glazing treatmentV described, vdue to the action of the guide members M and N, Whichcoact to prevent the brim from being. moved out of its proper position relative to the irons and rolls. When all portions of the brim have been treated, the guide members M` and N are raised and the hat-then passes out of engagement with the rollers.

rWhile in accordance with, the provisions of Athe statutes, I have illustrated and described the claims, and that certain features of my invention iso Tec

fheatedrtable surfacefupper vand lower rolls hav-` may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of otherfeatures.

Having now described my invention, what I claim vas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hat brim ironing machine comprising in combination, a supporting table adapted to support a hat resting thereon in an upright position and freely movable over the table with substantially the entire lower surface of its brim in contact therewith, a heated iron arranged to f contact with the upper surface of said brim and ktact with the upper surface of said brim and to press said brim against said table, means acting on said brim toy rotate said hat and to continuous- 1y advance successive portions of said brim past said iron, and meansV for guiding the hatduring said movements.

3. A hat brim ironing machine comprising in combination, a table for supporting a hat in an upright/position withv substantially the entire lower surface of the brim in contact with said table and'on which said hatjisfreely movable in operation, means forironingr the brim ofy said hat so supported, and means for advancing'said brim past said ironing means including a pair of rolls arranged to iorrn a horizontal roll pass and to frictonaily Contact 4with said` hat brim.

4. A hat brim'ironing machine comprising in combination, a table for supporting a hat in an upright position with substantially the entire lower surface of the brim contact with said table and on which said hat is freely movable in operation, means for ironing the brim of said hat so supported, and means for advancing successive portions of said brim past said ironing means including a pair of rolls arranged to fricrtionally Contact with oppositesurfaces of said hat brim, means for driving said rolls', one of said rolls being tapered and located above the level of said table, and the other of saidrolls being arranged in an opening formed in said table and directly below' said other roll. 5. A hat brim ironing machine comprising in` tially the entire lower surface of the brim in contact with said rtable i having a heated surface portion over which the lower surface of the brim of said hat is movable in operation, a heated iron arranged to `contact with the upper'surface' of said brim and to press 'said brim against said ing. a frictional contact with the corresponding surfaces of `said brim and arranged to advance successive portions of said brim past said iron,

`and guide members contacting with the crown of said hat andjcoacting to prevent said brim from passing out of engagement with said rolls. 6. A hat brim ironing Vmachine comprising in combination, a supporting table adapted to support a hat resting thereon in an upright position and freely movable over the table with substantially the entire lower surface of the brim in contact withsaid table and having a heated surface portion over which the lower surface of the brim of said hat is movable in operation, a heated iron arranged -to contact with the upper surface of said brim and to press said brim against said heated table surface, means actingv on said brim for advancing successive portions` of said brim past said iron, and means for raising said iron to permit said brim to bepositioned thereunder.

7. A hat brim ironing machine comprising in combination, a supporting table adapted to supporta hat resting thereon in an upright position and freely movable over the table and having a heated surface' portion formed of material-having a lower thermal conductivity than the sur-V rounding portions of said table and over which the lower surface of the brim of said hat is mov'- able in operation, aheatediron arranged to con-Y tact with the uppery surface of said brim andto press said brim against said heated table surface, and means for advancing successive portions of said brim past said iron. f

8. A machine of the character described comprising in combination,- rneans for supporting a hat in an upright position andon which said hat is relatively movable in operation, upper and lower glazing'rolls arranged to irictionally con'- tact with the corresponding surfaces of the brim of said hat, and means for rotating one of said `rolls ata higher speed than the other.

A hat brim ironing machine comprising in 2O upright position and on which said hat is relatively movable in operation, means for ironing the brim of said hat, a pair of rolls arranged to frictionally contact with saidv hat brim, and means for rotating one of said rolls at a higher `speed than the other.

11. A hat brim ironing machine comprising in combination, a Vsupportingetable adapted to rsupport a hat with a crown block therein in an upright position and freely movable over thetable with its brim in contact with the table, ironing means adapted to act on the brim of a hat so` supported, a pair of feed rollers providing a brimk receiving roll passapproximately at ther table level and adjacent, and adapted to draw the hat brim past said ironing means, one of said rolls being conical and having its smaller end adjacent the crown of the hat whereby the rolls give the hat a rotative movement on thetable, a guide engaging the hat crown at the side of the latter K adjacent said rolls, means yieldingly engaging thepcrown of the hat ,at the side thereof remote from, and pressing the hat toward said ironing means. 'A

RUDOLPH G. SEGSCHNEIDER. 

